Sustainable Craftsmanship at Expo 2025: Joseph Walsh’s Material Approach in the Ireland Pavilion
The Osaka World Expo 2025 will feature Irish craftsmanship with a focus on sustainable materials and innovative design. Joseph Walsh Studio will contribute to the Ireland Pavilion, showcasing material innovation and sustainable practices in sculptural design.
Material Innovation at the Ireland Pavilion
The Ireland Pavilion, designed by the Office of Public Works Ireland in collaboration with TSP Taiyo Japan, integrates sustainable materials with a focus on reusability after the Expo. The design, inspired by the ancient Irish triskele motif, represents interconnectedness while incorporating eco-friendly materials that can be repurposed post-event.
Joseph Walsh Studio will present Magnus Rinn, a monumental outdoor sculpture that explores the relationship between natural materials and design. The sculpture consists of high-performance oak, finished with gold gilding. The lower section retains a textured surface, while the upper section in oak is formed using a three-dimensional free-form lamination process. This process, developed at the Fartha Campus in South Ireland, allows for organic shaping influenced by the material’s natural growth patterns.
RINN: Circularity and Sustainability in Design
The theme of circularity is explored in the RINN/輪 project, a three-part exhibition taking place in Osaka and Tokyo, before being presented at the Glucksman Gallery, Ireland. Curated by Joseph Walsh and Wahei Aoyama of A Lighthouse called Kanata Gallery, the exhibition examines the role of natural materials in design and craftsmanship in both Ireland and Japan.
The exhibition will include historical artefacts, paintings, and tools, illustrating the use of biobased and recyclable materials in architecture, interior design, and product innovation. The works aim to highlight the relationship between material heritage and contemporary design practices.
Source: Joseph Walsh Studio and Making In Cultural Programme
Photos: Magnus Rinn, Norman Wilcox